Dinner Recipe

[JackHammer]

I have to cook for this girl I'm seeing on Thursday and I would like to get some recommendations on something fairly easy. I don't cook that often so I don't really have a good repetoire to select from. I'm thinking about getting a couple of filet mignons and put them on the barbeque and also making a little pasta salad. For dessert, I'm hoping to serve myself but I don't know if that's going to fly so I'll get a tiramisu cake from the local bakery.

[brainsmile]

Filet is hard to do unless you butterfly cut them. Good luck

[avlena]

pasta is easy. Get something fancy looking, like the curly pasta, and a pre-made sauce. Grill up chicken breast, chop it up, and artfully place it on top of the pasta & sauce. Also get some garlic bread for the side. Throw in some candles and wine, and voila!

[RoniMan]

Since you have a grill, pork chops are fairly easy to make.

just use olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, garlic salt. Grill for about 8-10 mins. You can add a pineapple on top. Make some couscous for garnishing, and voila, you're ready to serve yourself as dessert. :D

Good luck!

[cruelpupet]

Ive posted it before, but it is one of my favs

Creamy Chicken Penne Pasta (http://www.stenchofpennies.com/ray/forums/recipes/Chicken%20-%20Creamy%20Chicken%20Penne.doc) (MS Word Doc, setup to print on a 3x5 index double sided)

Note: Keep the chicken chunk sizes uniform, and try not to overcook em.






Creamy Chicken & Penne
Ingredients:
• 2lbs. - Chicken breast
• 1lb. - Penne pasta
• 4 cups – Broccoli flowerets (petite)
• 1 – Onion (diced)
• 1 tbsp. – Olive oil
• ¾ cup - Sun dried tomatoes in oil
• 1 cup – Heavy cream
• ½ cup – Chicken broth
• 2 tbsp. – Balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. - Salt
• ¼ tsp. - Black pepper
• ¾ cup – Grated parmesan cheese
Directions:

• Cook 1 pound penne pasta following package directions, and stir in 4 cups of broccoli flowerets for the last 2 minutes.
• Sauté 1 diced onion in 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet for 6 minutes, until softened.
• Add chicken, cut into small chunks; sauté 4 minutes.
• Stir in finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper; simmer 4 minutes.
• Drain pasta and toss with chicken mixture and parmesan cheese.

[DarkFury]

filet mignons eh?

You must be REALLY trying to impress... I'm assuming you must have good grilling skills right?

Personally, I don't know if I'd go with that cut of meat (but that's just me...), or with steak in general since that isn't usually a first choice for most women.

I'm in agreement with the others here... Grilled chicken or pork chops may go over a little better with a pasta salad.

[Napoleon54]

I can't speak for your ladyfriend, but I'd sure as hell be impressed with a filet mignon! I'd recommend butterflying it as Brainsmile suggested if she wants it done medium-well or better. Personally, I like 'em left the hell alone and dark red in the center, but that's a matter of preference

Here's a pasta salad I made the other night. Just kinda threw stuff together and it worked beautifully. Sorry for the lack of solid measurements.


16oz bowtie pasta, cooked rinsed and cooled
splash of olive oil, maybe 3Tbsp
3 medium tomatoes, sliced small
4 or 5 green onions, chopped
1 can (12oz?) artichoke hearts, chopped
~3oz shredded parmesean cheese
dried dill, to taste (try 3tsp to start)
italian seasoning mix, to taste (try 3tsp to start)
salt and pepper, to taste


Add olive oil to pasta and mix to coat evenly. Add everything else and mix to distribute evenly. I'd make this a day ahead of time and let it chill in the refrigerator to give the herbs a chance to wake up. That would also cut down on your prep time on the day of the event.

Edit: I dunno how much green onion I added, I just took the whole bunch and chopped off maybe 4" worth from the green end. That's probably a better idea than using whole ones 'cause they get stronger toward the bulb end.

[DarkFury]

I can't speak for your ladyfriend, but I'd sure as hell be impressed with a filet mignon! I'd recommend butterflying it as Brainsmile suggested if she wants it done medium-well or better. Personally, I like 'em left the hell alone and dark red in the center, but that's a matter of preference
The funky thing about that is... most women I know (emphasis on the ones that I have encountered) don't have an appreciation for steak that is not "well done". They think that ALL steaks should be cooked until they are brown inside and out.

I don't know why this is... I've tried explaining to them the reason why you leave the hot pink center in the finer cuts of meat, yet they honestly just don't go for it.

Maybe it's a woman thing... maybe it's not. However I'd sure as heck like to know that she'd appreciate such a fine cut of meat prepared the way it should be prepared BEFORE I go through the hassle of procuring and preparing it. (Last thing I'd want to see is her eat the past salad and leave 3/4 of the filet mignon on her plate stating that it was "undercooked". :angry: :2far:

This is why I personally recommend the chicken or a pork chop... those should always be fully cooked and generally they are "safe choices" as far as meats go. :D

[Jeffbx]

Gmail always has some good suggestions:

Spam Confetti Pasta (http://www.recipesource.com/main-dishes/meat/pork/spam/00/rec0018.html)

Gingered Spam Salad (http://www.recipesource.com/main-dishes/meat/pork/spam/gingered-salad1.html)

Vineyard Spam Salad (http://www.recipesource.com/main-dishes/meat/pork/spam/00/rec0013.html)

Or if you're really feeling frisky:

Coconut Beer Batter Spam with Raspberry Horseradish (http://www.recipesource.com/main-dishes/meat/pork/spam/00/rec0023.html)

[Prngr44]

I'd go with chicken too.

Like DF said about uneaten steak, I'd hate to waste a nice cut of meat on someone who wouldn't know the difference between a filet or charcoal steak.

Did you think about kabobs? You could play a game to see how many bites she can take straight off the skewer.

;)

[Pemolis]

Chickens Safest. She may not eat pork.. and red meats harder to cook.

Pasta's best cause you can literally screw it up and it still will be fine (Just don't undercook it).

I'll put down 6 notes you should seriously consider.

1) Presentation. This matters as much as the food. Get a tablecloth if you have a crappy table, use REAL dishes and forks/knives (stow the plastic forks and paper plates). Get actual Napkins (the folded ones that don't have the "I got ripped off a 100 sheet role" look). If you don't want to buy them, steal 4 from the local restaurants the day before. Get two wine glasses/flutes (4 if you go with my dessert recommendation, these cost you maybe 3 to 4 dollars if you find them on sale). Get 2 regular GLASS cups too (don't do plastic, not in this case). Consider two courses. An appetizer, and the main (for some reason women want appetizers). Stay Away From Fish. Safe appetizers are mozzarella sticks, or well made garlic bread. Put the Appetizer out there but don't expect them to eat it (just have it out). Don't make a ton of it either (make 4 mozzarella sticks, and have some sauce for it also).

2) Wine. Hide the soda and the hard liquor (water is fine). Its dinner and pasta, so a dark wine would be best (Merlot to be safe). If you do wine, spend over 10, but under 20. Some are picky and only drink white wine (toss her for someone else if she's that anal). Serve the merlot. If she doesn't even attempt to try it.. get rid of her.. you've spent too much on someone who isn't the least appreciative. The ONLY excuses for not drinking...
a) She is a Strict Non-Alchololic
b) She's on her meds.... if so.. hide the knives and run away.

3) Dessert. Have fun with this.. but a cheap, easy to make dessert is Chocolate Moose. You can buy a pack to make moose at the store for 2 bucks (takes about 11 minutes to make, and you can chill it overnight). To present mouse, put it in a wine glass (preferably, have 2 spares), top it with some whip cream (coolwhip or that spray whip is fine). Clean the edges of the wine glass of any stray moose and present. It's simple, and its upscale (its not pudding, its moose). The wine glass makes quite a nice presentation. Make sure to have spoons that will Actually fit in the wine glass.

4) Music. Somber music works (in most cases, Smooth Jazz). Put on a CD, not the radio (commercials are somewhat bad).

5) Lighting. You don't need candles but there a nice touch. Don't dim the lighting very much (just turn a few off in the outer rooms. Make sure the AC is on (yea spend the 3 bucks on electricity).

6) CLEAN THE HOUSE. Don't just put stuff away.. Sweep the Floor, CLEAN THE TOILET, inside and out. Same with the sink.

[oblongmelon]

why don't you just make a big huge salad with tons of stuff in it like chicken cubes, cheese, olives, apples, cranberries, mandarin oranges etc..mmmm
and yeh, clean your house.

[JackHammer]

Thanks for the responses. You guys are the best. In regards to the half eaten steak, I'd finish it for her. I ain't about to let a good piece of meat go to waste. Come on now. There are starving children in China. I think I'll go with a herb encrusted salmon. This guy from work gave me the details. He said to get salmon filets. Chop up some garlic and put it in with some olive oil. Microwave the olive oil and garlic for 45 secs and then brush onto the salmon. Use McCormick fish seasoning and put the whole shabang on the pan. Sounds easy enough.

[cruelpupet]

Thanks for the responses. You guys are the best. In regards to the half eaten steak, I'd finish it for her. I ain't about to let a good piece of meat go to waste. Come on now. There are starving children in China. I think I'll go with a herb encrusted salmon. This guy from work gave me the details. He said to get salmon filets. Chop up some garlic and put it in with some olive oil. Microwave the olive oil and garlic for 45 secs and then brush onto the salmon. Use McCormick fish seasoning and put the whole shabang on the pan. Sounds easy enough.

Fish is risky. Does she like fish? Does she like salmon?

[utcpal]

Jack.. tell us how did it go..
Good luck!

[Napoleon54]

The funky thing about that is... most women I know (emphasis on the ones that I have encountered) don't have an appreciation for steak that is not "well done". They think that ALL steaks should be cooked until they are brown inside and out. Yea, wimens is weird creatures. Once in a while you do find one who likes her steak done right... in those cases, grab hold tight 'cause you've got a winner! I'll settle for one who at least doesn't roll her eyes or grimmace when I cut off a big bleeding hunk and stuff it in my mow.


*snip*

:stupid:

Lotsa good advice there.

[DarkFury]

Thanks for the responses. You guys are the best. In regards to the half eaten steak, I'd finish it for her. I ain't about to let a good piece of meat go to waste. Come on now. There are starving children in China.
Eating off of her plate on the first date.... Hmmmm... I dunno about that strategy.

It might work... but then again, it might not. :shrug:

[MrGreg]

I don't think he ever said it was a first date, did he?

[Napoleon54]

I don't think he ever said it was a first date, did he?

:stupid: I don't think he did either.

And anyway, speaking of dates... how about an UPdate JH?? How'd it go, what'd you make?

[DarkFury]

I don't think he ever said it was a first date, did he?
Ok.. it was an assumption. Sue me. (you won't get much... :D )

[cheapie]

salmon...mmmmm...

this is my dinner the other night.

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/981/dinner1.jpg

salmon salad. the greens are from our garden. homemade wheat rolls. glass of wine. :drool: i'm lucky. i eat like that often.

[JackHammer]

It went well. The salmon came out ok. It wasn't as salty as I would have liked it but it wasn't terrible either. The pasta salad came out suprisingly good. I also opened up a bottle of Pinot Noir I got from wootwine.com. And I ended up the night with some desert, a tiramisu cake.

[YellowCoffee]

salmon...mmmmm...

this is my dinner the other night.

http://www.raymondkwan.com/uploader2/files/981/dinner1.jpg

salmon salad. the greens are from our garden. homemade wheat rolls. glass of wine. :drool: i'm lucky. i eat like that often.

You are a lucky man cheapie. Do you cook or does the wife, or do you guys cook together?

[cheapie]

i cook meats. like last night i cooked some burgers that i had made up and frozen. i had mixed onion, seasoning salt, egg, and worcestershire sauce in hamburger and had pre-formed them and threw them in the freezer. man, throw them on the grill and then lightly toast some onion buns and throw in some syrah and a salad to add a little class = yum yum!

i also do chicken and pork tenderloins somewhat regularly. not a ton of beef. i think it's because i tend to screw steak up and had wasting the money. i use charcoal and haven't found a good way to consistently do it right.

[cheapie]

It went well. The salmon came out ok. It wasn't as salty as I would have liked it but it wasn't terrible either. The pasta salad came out suprisingly good. I also opened up a bottle of Pinot Noir I got from wootwine.com. And I ended up the night with some desert, a tiramisu cake.

The Francis Coppola Reserve perhaps? I've been waiting for a special occasion to pop those open!